IRIS XIPHIOIDES. 
203 
white is seldom absent; and the variations of the three may easily 
be rendered indefinite; the mixing is almost at the pleasure of 
the cultivator, for they are easily operated on in the way of cross¬ 
breeding, are certain to produce abundance of seed, which is 
always of a sportive character as regards the future plants. 
Their culture is of the easiest description ; with a few 
simple directions the merest tyro may manage them, and more¬ 
over, they will grow in any situation that is not immediately 
under trees and that has moderately good soil. The seed is 
usually ripe about the middle of August, which may be known 
by the capsules splitting; it should be gathered when perfectly 
dry, and kept in bags till the following March. A bed of light 
rich earth should then he made up in a rather warm position that 
will be slightly shaded at noon in the middle of summer ; if this 
bed is not of a naturally light loamy soil, it should be brought 
as near as possible to that condition by artificial means ; into it 
the seeds are to be sown not later than the middle of the month, 
distributing them thinly in drills about an inch and a half deep 
and six inches between the rows ; rake the ground level after 
sowing, and press it pretty firmly. No further trouble need be 
taken with them beyond the necessary weeding, and the appli¬ 
cation of water if the summer prove very dry, till the autumn of 
the second season after sowing, when they will have attained a 
sufficient size for removal, and may be expected to bloom in the 
following summer; their treatment after this is that of mature 
bulbs. 
The best ground for them is rather strong loam of a slightly 
retentive nature, which should be further enriched with a liberal 
allowance of manure put on and dug in sometime in September; 
the earth should be well pulverized, and the manure buried at a 
regular depth, full six inches from the surface, or it is likely to 
turn up again in the planting. As a rule, the bulbs should not 
be kept out of the ground beyond six weeks on any consideration 
at any time, more especially when only of the age of those de¬ 
scribed ; a contrary course so materially injures them that many 
do not survive it, and few bloom in perfection. English Iris 
kept dry till spring, as we so often see them in shops, are scarcely 
worth planting, for it is only by the merest chance that any ve¬ 
getate again after such treatment. I would impress this on the 
